Why Businesses Are Turning to Improv for Team Building

Karen Manthey, our Artistic Director, conducting an improv workshop for a Boise State Business Intelligence Class. Photo from the article here.

Forget trust falls and PowerPoints—companies around the world are discovering that the most effective team-building tool is something a little…unexpected:

🎭 Improv.

It might sound like just a fun afternoon (and it is), but improv delivers serious results for teams. From communication and adaptability to trust and innovation, improv training checks all the boxes—and does it with laughter.

🧠 Why Improv Works for Teams

Improv isn’t about being funny. It’s about being present. Listening. Responding. Supporting. All things great teams need—especially in fast-paced or creative work environments.

Here’s what improv builds in a team:

• Better Communication You learn to really listen—not just wait to talk. That leads to clearer, more collaborative conversations.

• Psychological Safety When mistakes are welcomed (and laughed together at), people speak up more freely.

• Faster Thinking & Adaptability In improv, you adapt instantly. That mindset helps teams pivot with less stress when things change.

• Creative Problem-Solving Improv encourages experimentation and lateral thinking—skills that fuel innovation.

• Cohesion & Trust Nothing bonds people like shared laughter and mutual support.

📈 It’s Not Just Us Saying It

Companies like Google, Hershey, and PepsiCo have brought in improv trainers through CSz Worldwide. Universities are asking us to teach it to med students and MBAs. Why? Because improv helps people function better together—even (especially!) when things go off-script.

🤝 What Businesses Say About Our Workshops:

“Our team left feeling energized, connected, and full of ideas.”

“It was the most fun we’ve ever had learning how to work better together.”

“People were still quoting games we played two weeks later.”

💼 Want to bring improv to your organization?

Book a free consultation to see if it's a good fit.